Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece you’ll find a free tip from Day 1 of Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup Meeting.
I mentioned yesterday that I would return to some of Saturday’s big races. This time it’s not about trends, like the Betfair Sprint Cup, but about a few horses that catch the eye ahead of final declarations later this morning. Alongside the Sprint Cup, there are several high-quality handicaps at Haydock, Kempton, and Ascot. Today I’m focusing on two of the Haydock contests.
Saturday Haydock
Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup (Class 2) – 1m6f
The Reverend ran out an easy winner at Ripon last time and looks progressive. He’s only 4lb higher here but does want ease in the ground. If conditions turn in his favour and he stays this longer trip, he’ll take plenty of beating. William Haggas, who won the race in 2023, could also run Dramatic Star. Stable jockey Tom Marquand is booked for both.
Paddy The Squire has been thriving, winning three times this season. He’s 5lb higher than for his latest success in the Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton but should go close again if stamina holds. His yard has had previous success in this race, winning it in 2015 and 2017.
Shadow Dance wasn’t disgraced in the Ebor, finishing 11th on ground that may have been too quick. He’ll want some cut but tends to come into form at this time of year, with both career wins arriving August & September.
Master Builder, last year’s winner of the 3yo handicap on this card, has yet to repeat his 3yo form this season. It will be interesting if David Menuisier looks to headgear to spark to revive him.
Stressfree, trained by David O’Meara, is another to note. He was fourth in the Ebor, just like O’Meara’s winner of this race last year, and now proven over the trip, he looks a big player if he runs.
Betfair Plays In A Different League Handicap (Class 2) – 1m6f
This 3yo contest is run over the same trip as the Old Borough Cup. Andrew Balding and William Haggas have both won it twice in the past decade. Balding has Fantasy World & Way Of Stars among the entries, while Haggas relies on Valiancy. The latter is already in my tracker and is the ante-post favourite at 7/2.
Ride The Thunder looks the type to have more to come if staying the new trip. He looks a work in progress and one to keep onside.
Other improvers among the entries are Perfect Your Craft and Gran Descans albeit the first named hasn’t got a jockey booked at the time of writing and the latter has alternative engagement at Ascot on Saturday.
Thursday Racing
Time to pack your buckets and spades as this afternoon racing heads to the beach. Laytown remains the only meeting run on real sand under the Rules of Racing in Britain or Ireland. The first recorded fixture there took place back in 1868. It’s a unique spectacle and still high on my bucket list – though it won’t be ticked off this year.
The Sprint Cup Meeting kicks off at Haydock today and runs through to Saturday. But in terms of quality, the spotlight was supposed to fall on Salisbury, with the Group 3 Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes (3:47) set as the day’s feature contest.
Sadly, the track took 27mm of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday morning in addition to plenty last week, leaving the course waterlogged in places. Officials had no choice but to cancel. It’s the second year in a row this fixture has been lost to waterlogging. Disappointing for me as I’d already studied a couple of those Salisbury races. It isn’t the first and won’t be the last time weather has the final say.
With Salisbury abandoned, I’m switching focus to Haydock for today’s selection. It’s not my choice but I’m doing my 30-day protection of the betting bank challenge, so I’m putting one up.
Luzon Heights – 12/1 (Gen)
Running Total – £82
Good luck with your Thursday bets.
John